Expanding your company to tap into a global market is not always easy.

Like all aspects of international business, it requires a clear understanding of how global supply lines operate as well as some intermediate knowledge about cultural and social differences between different countries. So if you want your business to have a more global reach, here are five mistakes that you should avoid in the process.

Mistake 1: Not Having Clear Objectives and a Road map

Having clear goals is essential for formulating a smart plan for global expansion. It can also help you assess which international markets are ideal for your company, and which ones are extremely risky.

Mistake 2: Improperly Judging Risk

Make no mistake, going global is very risky. However, you can mitigate this risk by selecting the right markets or niches to invest in. For example, if you want to go into manufacturing then you will need to know a thing or two about Asian markets since that's where most of the world's manufacturing base presently takes place. On the other hand, investing your resources in a niche or market that you're not familiar with will only increase the risks that you will be facing in the future.

Global markets are dictated by cultural differences. The reality is that some countries are more enterprising than others, such as the Chinese for example, while others are less amenable to international commerce, which is often the case with third world countries. So if you want to invest in a global market, be sure to focus on those countries which are more culturally predisposed to business and commerce.

Mistake 4: Making Decisions Based Only on Widely Known Information

International business is often plagued with misinformation, and this is because it's heavily intertwined with the investment community. So if you are looking for information on how to make your investments, be sure to consult all sides of the argument, namely bullish investors, bearish investors and everyone else in between. This way, you'll have a more nuanced view about the current state of the market.

Mistake 5: Being Overconfident in Your Global Expansion Skills

It's easy for people who have traveled abroad to overestimate their own skills. However, this can also be a fatal mistake. Traveling a lot is not the same as knowing how foreign markets work. So take things slowly and be sure to only invest your company's resources in those markets that you're familiar with.

As you can see, global business is never easy, but the good news is that avoiding investment mistakes is often easier. So if you want to go global, remember these tips, and stay focused on those markets that you wish to invest in.